PM Modi inaugurates Atal Tunnel, the world's longest highway tunnel, in Himachal Pradesh

Manali: Amid ongoing tensions with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the strategically important Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh that connects Manali to the Lahaul-Spiti valley. The new tunnel named after former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is expected to reduce travel time to Leh (in the Union Territory of Ladakh) by up to five hours.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General MM Naravane, as well as Himachal Chief Minister Jairam Thakur.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi described the moment as a "historic day" and said that the tunnel would strengthen India's border infrastructure and hailed it as the realization of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's vision. PM Modi said that the Atal tunnel will give strength to India's border infrastructure and is an example of "world-class border connectivity.

Mr. Modi further expressed that the tunnel is is important as it because it facilitates a connection to Ladakh and will greatly benefit the people who live in the mountains.

The 9 km-long Atal tunnel, which is the longest highway construction of its kind in the world (above 10,000 feet), is built to "ultra-modern specifications" at an altitude of 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas.

IThe Atal tunnel horseshoe-shaped, single-tube, double lane tunnel with a roadway of eight metres and has an overhead clearance of 5.525 metres, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

The tunnel will be able to handle 3,000 cars and 1,500 trucks per day, each of which can travel at a maximum speed of 80 kmph.

The south portal (SP) of the tunnel is located at a distance of 25 km from Manali and at an altitude of 3,060 metres. The north portal (NP) is located near the Teling village in the Lahaul Valley at an altitude of 3,071 metres.

It needs mention here that the decision to construct a strategic tunnel below the Rohtang Pass in Himachal was taken on June 3, 2000, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister of the country. The foundation stone for the access road to the South Portal was laid on May 26, 2002.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) worked relentlessly to overcome geological, terrain and weather challenges that included the most difficult stretch of the 587-metre Seri Nalah Fault Zone.

Also Watch: Assam DIG (retd) who owns 8kg gold, 5 hotels, 5 flats, 2 tea estates, 1500 bighas of land